Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott told reporters on Saturday night that he was not consulted about the release of wide receiver Dez Bryant and that he is sad that he’s gone.

The Cowboys released Bryant on Friday following three consecutive seasons of reduced production on the heels of three seasons with at least 1,200 yards receiving and 12 touchdowns playing with Tony Romo.

In two seasons of playing with Prescott, Bryant did not eclipse 850 yards or more than eight touchdowns and often appeared to be on a different page than his young quarterback.

“Obviously, it’s sad news,” Prescott told reporters. “That’s a brother to me. Put the football stuff behind you. What he meant to me as a person, what he meant to me as a brother. It’s tough to see him go. It shows you, I mean, it’s a business. It motivates me honestly. It motivates me and puts all this in perspective.”

There something to be said about Prescott noting putting all of the “football stuff behind you.” Prescott is surely fully aware that in his two years in Dallas, Bryant’s production took a steep decline.

Dak Prescott said on Saturday that he was not consulted about Dez Bryant’s release from the Dallas Cowboys, calling it “sad news.” (AP)

Prescott said that he kept up with the speculation preceding Bryant’s departure with much of the rest of the NFL.

“I didn’t really know necessarily if it was happening,” Prescott said. “He was a great player. He did a lot of great things for us. He was a guy, man-to-man you’d go to. … All I can do is continue to get better at my job and just to the best I can.

If Bryant thrives for another team and Prescott fails to progress next season, Prescott will be facing a lot tougher questions than he did on Saturday.